Birthday: 12/15/88 Mile PR: 3:50.54 (road) - 2022
Metric Mile (1500m) PR: 3:34.26 - 2016
High School: Stillwater HS '07
Hometown: Stillwater, MN
College: University of Minnesota '12
Current Residence: Eugene, OR
Ben Blankenship finished national runner-up at the 2024 USA Trail Marathon Championships in Cable, WI, crossing the line in 3:03:46. A documentary, Endless Miles, follows Ben from world class, Olympic Miler to ultra trail runner.
In October 2021, he debuted in the marathon, clocking 2:16:01 at the McKirdy Micro Marathon to qualify for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando. His coach is two-time Olympian Ryan Hall who has recorded the fastest marathon by an American, clocking 2:04:58 at Boston in 2011.
In 2022, his non-profit Endless Mileage Project launched Fast Forest at Dorris Ranch in Springfield, OR that immortalizes U.S. Milers who have broken the recognized sub-4 minute and sub-4:30 standards; each Miler has a tree planted with a tag listing first sub-4 or sub-4:30 date order, name, time, date and location.
In his 10,000m track debut, Ben recorded a 28:08.20, good for 5th place at the 2020 Sunset Tour in Los Angeles.
In December 2018, he won the USATF National Club Cross Country Championships 10K crown, beating a top men's field in Spokane, WA.
In 2017, the Minnesota native earned the USA Indoor Mile title, clocking 3:59.22, in Albuquerque, NM (6th fastest indoors at altitude). In May, he easily defended his Medtronic TC 1 Mile crown in 4:01, and at the end of July in Pittsburgh, he also repeated as GNC Live Well Liberty Mile champion, recording 4:05 under windy, damp conditions. In September, the Rio Olympian won the Minnesota Mile in a blanket finish 4:07, edging out Trevor Dunbar, Riley Masters and Patrick Casey, and on September 16, he ran the fastest Mile on Alaskan soil, 3:57.85, in Kodiak. On October 1, Blankenship capped his outstanding racing season with a 4th place finish at The Navy Mile to secure the BBTM Grand Prix #Tour2017 title.
Blankenship, in his first Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, finished 8th in the 1500 meters, and at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials 1500m, he earned the coveted third spot, recording a 3:36.18, to secure the Rio Olympic team berth. Ben, in his home state of Minnesota, also won his first USA title at the 2016 Medtronic TC 1 Mile, clocking an event record 3:55.8 and earning $15,000 ($5000 for the win and $10,000 ER bonus). In September 2016, he ended his impressive 2016 racing season with a win at the GNC Live Well Liberty Mile, posting a 4:02 against a top field in Pittsburgh.
At the 2015 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston, Blankenship finished runner-up to Nick Willis, clocking 3:53.13, a track personal record; in addition, Blankenship became the 8th fastest U.S. Miler indoors. Also in 2015, Ben won the AIT Grand Prix: Deloitte Mile in Athlone, Ireland, clocking 3:56.75, the first sub-4 indoor Mile on Irish soil.
Also in 2015, at the World Relays in the Bahamas on May 3, Ben anchored the men's Team USA Distance Medley Relay to a world record 9:15.50 (1200m, 400m, 800m and 1600m) and at the Prefontaine Classic on May 30, he won the International Mile, breaking the beam in an outdoor world leading 3:55.72.
The two-time NCAA All-American at the University of Minnesota won the 2013 Minnesota Mile, setting a course record of 3:52.7 (also the fastest Mile ever run in his home state), and the Falmouth Mile, clocking 3:56.27 to edge fellow Minnesotan Will Leer, and later in August, he took the Michigan Mile title in 4:06 to capture three Bring Back the Mile Tour 2013 wins.
Ben also won the 2010 Big Ten Mile title, and during that same season, he was the first Golden Gopher to run a sub-4 minute Mile. The Stillwater, Minn. native holds the UofM school record in the Mile (3:57.87 - indoors) and 1500 meters (3:39.77).
FUN FACT: Blankenship has a tattoo of his home state of Minnesota on his outer right thigh.
Scheduled for Friday, July 7, downtown Pittsburgh’s only night time road race will offer a prize purse of more than $23,000; Fleet Feet Elite Derby returns with the opportunity for participants to win a special prize from Brooks Running
From P3R
PITTSBURGH – U.S. Olympian Ben Blankenship and...
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Nick Willis’ record 20th consecutive year sub-4, annual record of first U.S. sub-4 shattered, annual record of U.S. high school sub-4s (5 individuals, 7 times), event prize money increases 34%, official road Mile world championship & world record category announced and more!
By Ryan Lamppa,...
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Rio Olympian and three-time U.S. champion Ben Blankenship spearheads launch of non-profit organization
EUGENE, Ore. – Ben Blankenship has unveiled his non-profit the Endless Mileage Project, an organization dedicated to the intersection of sustainability and the running community.
Endless...
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Guaranteed $25,000 prize purse plus time and event record bonus money available too for 26th edition on Saturday, August 20
From Falmouth Road Race
FALMOUTH, Mass. - Falmouth Road Race, Inc., organizers of the Falmouth Elite Mile, an invitational Mile open to males who run sub-4:00 and...
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Past race champions Murphy, Lipari, Follett returning to the streets of Des Moines; $25,000 prize purse with $5000 for each national champion
From Grand Blue Mile
DES MOINES - Grand Blue Mile officials from Wellmark® Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® and the Drake Relays presented by Xtream...
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Whoever shows up on the starting line at Hayward Field, rest assured the guys will put on a great show at the U.S. Olympic Trials
By Jeff Hollobaugh, Track & Field News
It's not outlandish to project that one of the most-anticipated events at June’s U.S. Olympic Trials will be the men’s 1500....
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"I have always said, I’d rather run the hardest race right away than pick my way through it. I’ve always kinda liked to run those gauntlets and kind of find myself in the harder heats if possible.”
By Sieg Lindstrom, Track & Field News
“I wake up every morning and remind myself: ‘I don’t have...
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Featuring a Rio Olympian, four USA Road Mile champions and four race champions, the virtual elite field hopes to inspire and motivate other race participants with their virtual Mile races
From P3R
PITTSBURGH – Even though the make-up of the race is different this year, the 2020 Fleet Feet...
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I can't wait to return to the Liberty Mile! From the course to the crowd, the event management team and sponsors to my competitors, it is always one of the highlights of my racing season. Pittsburgh is a great place to run.
From GNC
Rio Olympian Ben Blankenship is a current co-world record...
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Friday, July 20 night time Mile race in The City of Champions offers a $30,000 prize purse; third stop on the BBTM Grand Prix Tour 2018
From P3R
PITTSBURGH – Defending champion Ben Blankenship and top U.S. Miler Amanda Eccleston headline a deep field of professional runners at this year’s GNC...
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Kenyans Elijah Manangoi & Timothy Cheruiyot headline field plus three fastest Milers in Pre history, topped by two-time Bowerman Mile winner Ayanleh Souleiman – whose meet record of 3:47.32 is the fastest ever on U.S. soil.
EUGENE, Ore. – The world’s top two current Milers will bring their...
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First-time champions at historic indoor race hold off challengers to claim trophies
By Athletics Weekly
Chris O’Hare won the prestigious Wanamaker Mile at the 111th NYRR Millrose Games, becoming the first British man since John Whetton in 1965 to claim victory in the race.
Clocking 3:54.14,...
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It’s rare to root for someone as they’re actively beating you, although this was a special occasion.
By Kyle Merber for Tracksmith
In late May, Trevor Dunbar texted me. A week later and we were sitting for lunch in Concord, Massachusetts ahead of the Adrian Martinez Classic. My ears were open...
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Grand prix tour with 5 stops awarded more than $100,000 plus $10,000 #Tour2017 GP purse; Clayton Murphy & Emily Lipari earn Tour Performance-of-the-Year bonus; Running Warehouse’s “Pick-the-Winner” online contest at every stop for fourth edition
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – At the Bring Back the...
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Top field expected including Rio Olympian Ben Blankenship; third edition offers a $15,000 Open prize purse; a benefit for the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps and Navy Safe Harbor Foundation
From The Navy Mile
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The 3rd Navy Mile on Pennsylvania Avenue presented by USAA, set for...
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Racing in cold and rainy conditions in Kodiak yields third sub-4 in 4 days
By Alaska Dispatch News
The Great Alaska Miles Series wrapped up Saturday in Kodiak, where 2016 Rio Olympic runner Ben Blankenship ran the fastest Mile recorded in Alaska.
Blankenship, of Eugene, Oregon, topped a...
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"I always want to finish a race knowing I worked as hard as I could. That I did everything I could, and I couldn't have done any better."
By Doyle Woody, Alaska Disptach News
Ben Blankenship is a 2016 Rio Olympian and a national champion Miler, a Nike-sponsored athlete who competes in Diamond...
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Overall, a record 19 men clock sub-4 and 6 women sub-4:20 in same race; at 37th edition in 23 heats, record-number 7,664 finishers, world’s largest Mile!
From NYRR
NEW YORK – The USA’s Jenny Simpson raced to her record-extending sixth win – matching the event record time of 4:16.6 in the...
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Kampf captures women's race also in blanket finish; 4th stop on the Bring Back the Mile Grand Prix Tour 2017; finale on Sunday, October 1 at The Navy Mile in Washington, DC
By Louie St. George, Duluth News-Tribune
Just before he arrived back in the United States last week from the IAAF World...
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Top field, including event record holder and Rio Olympian Ben Blankenship, expected at 4th stop on the BBTM Grand Prix Tour 2017; 11th edition features new course, evening race and $17,000 in Open prize money
From host Grandma's Marathon
DULUTH, Minn. – A premier class of Mile runners are...
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Overcast skies and the threat of a downpour fueled athletes to run faster and stronger; sixth edition offered $30,000 prize purse presented by GNC; third stop on BBTM Grand Prix Tour 2017
From P3R
PITTSBURGH – (July 28, 2017) – At the 6th GNC Live Well Liberty Mile on Friday evening, runners...
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Sixth edition attracts nine sub-4 minute men’s Milers and eight sub-4:30 minute women’s Milers for Friday evening, July 28 downtown event; $30,000 prize purse presented by GNC Live Well; 3rd stop on Bring Back the Mile Grand Prix Tour 2017
From P3R
PITTSBURGH - The 6th GNC Live Well Liberty...
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6th edition in downtown Pittsburgh offers $30,000 prize purse presented by GNC Live Well; third stop on BBTM Grand Prix Tour 2017
From P3R
PITTSBURGH - Defending GNC Live Well Liberty Mile champions Heather Kampf and Ben Blankenship will return to the City of Champions to defend their titles...
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At 12th edition, more than 2,000 run in downtown Minneapolis; second stop on the BBTM Grand Prix #Tour2017
From Twin Cities In Motion
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Stillwater native Ben Blankenship and Emily Lipari of Brighton, Mass. won the professional races at the 12th running of the Medtronic TC 1...
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U.S. Olympian returns to his native state to defend his Medtronic TC 1 Mile title against two-time Olympic medalist Nick Willis and a field of top contenders at the second stop of the BBTM Grand Prix #Tour2017.
By Bring Back the Mile
American Mile star and Olympian Ben Blankenship has been on...
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12th event edition second stop on the Bring Back the Mile Grand Prix Tour 2017; Minneapolis riverfront course to host more than 2,500 runners on Thursday, May 11
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Medtronic TC 1 Mile record holder Ben Blankenship, a 2016 Olympian from Stillwater, Minnesota, and the man whose...
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Grand prix tour with 6 stops awarded more than $125,000 plus $10,000 GP purse; Tour Performance-of-the-Year by Ben Blankenship & Emily Lipari; Running Warehouse’s “Pick-the-Winner” contest engaged Mile fans at every event for third edition
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – (October 2, 2016) – At the ...
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Fifth edition awards an event record $30,000 prize purse; Kampf, Queen of the Road Mile, secures at least a tie for third straight Bring Back the Mile Grand Prix Tour title at fifth stop in the Steel City; Tour 2016 finale hosted by The Navy Mile on Sunday, October 2 in Washington, DC
From GNC...
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Eleven sub-4 minute men and eight sub-4:30 minute women expected in Steel City on Saturday, Sept. 17; $30,000 prize purse presented by GNC Live Well; fifth stop on Bring Back the Mile Grand Prix Tour 2016
From P3R
PITTSBURGH – This year’s increased prize purse of $30,000 has attracted some of...
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Women's 1500m top 3 strongest in U.S. Olympic team history; Blankenship, Andrews and Martinez celebrate first Olympic berths; Centrowitz breaks Steve Scott's Olympic Trials meet record.
By Chris Chavez, Sports Illustrated
Less than half a second separated the third and fourth place finishers...
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Heather Kampf wins 4th USATF 1 Mile Road title; second stop on BBTM Grand Prix Tour 2016
By Charlie Mahler, Twin Cities In Motion
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Ben Blankenship broke the event record at the 11th Medtronic TC 1 Mile with a runaway 3:55.8 victory to claim his first USATF 1 Mile Road...
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Pro fields set for USATF 1 Mile Road Championships and second stop on the Bring Back the Mile Grand Prix Tour; $25,000 prize purse with $10,000 for event record
From Twin Cities In Motion
The Medtronic TC 1 Mile, which already enjoyed a rich Minnesota flavor with a pair of locally grown...
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Blankenship had a heartbreaking fourth place finish at the 2015 USA Outdoor Chamionships missing the World's team by 0.02 seconds. Now he is looking towards 2016 in Rio.
From CTolleRun.com
Carrie Tollefson interviews professional runner and fellow Minnesota native Ben Blankenship. They chat...
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Hirsute Miler finished heartbreaking fourth at USA Outdoor Championships.
By Lindsay Rossmiller, Runner's World
At the beginning of May, after helping a U.S. team set the world record in the distance medley relay, Ben Blankenship said, “Nothing that I do in the next six or seven weeks will...
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Rising U.S. Mile star Ben Blankenship has cultivated a rather unique look and has a distinctive personality to match. Here’s our special guide to being Blankenship.
From Spikes
Grow your hair
Ben Blankenship had long hair throughout his high school years until one day, in his sophomore year...
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"You gotta be tough. Every time you get out there it’s always hard. There are no real free rides in this sport."
By Jonathan Gault, LetsRun.com
Three years ago, Ben Blankenship was injured and working in excavation with a friend in Colorado. The NCAA runner-up in the 3000m at Minnesota the...
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Record setting day in Wichita; U.S. Mile record holder Alan Webb honorary starter
WICHITA, Kan. – At the Kansas Road Mile Championship presented by the Kansas Spine & Specialty Hospital and GoRun Wichita, Ben Blankenship and Kristen Findley won the inaugural overall titles in 4:05 and 4:50,...
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Americans Ben Blankenship, Frezer Legesse & Kristen Findley and 2009 World 1500m champion Yusuf Kamel expected in Wichita on Sunday, November 9
WICHITA, Kan. – The inaugural Kansas Road Mile Championship has drawn a top field including 2009 World 1500m champion Yusuf Kamel of Bahrain and top...
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Race champions clock the fastest Mile performances ever on Minnesota soil; eight men go sub-4 minutes; 7th edition ends inaugural Bring Back the Mile Tour 2013
By Bob Gustafson
DULUTH, Minn. – It was a day for records at Sunday’s seventh Minnesota Mile road race in downtown Duluth.
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Blankenship, Kampf capture road Mile titles at 13th stop of inaugural Bring Back the Mile Tour 2013
By Ross Maghielse, MLive.com
FLINT, Mich. -- A pair of former University of Minnesota track stars took home top honors at the first-ever Crim Michigan Mile Racing Series Friday evening, Aug....
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Ten U.S. men go sub-4 minutes; 12th stop on the nationwide inaugural Bring Back the Mile Tour 2013
By Chris Lotsbom, Race Results Weekly
FALMOUTH, Mass. -- The 2013 Falmouth Mile proved exciting once again here at Falmouth High School on Cape Cod. Americans Ben Blankenship (3:56.27) and Katie...
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By Down the Backstretch
When Ben Blankenship, who has clocked a 3:54 Mile, looks out the window of the "house on the hill" in Eugene, that he shares with Hassan Mead, he sees "the cathedral," Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. It has become one of the training sites Blankenship will...
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